Roofing Options: Increasing Your Curb Appeal

Posted by Kelly Tripp on June 15, 2015

When it comes to building your new home, you may ask what particular roofing options are the best. The roof has always been the most important part of building a structure. Without a good waterproof roof, your home would deteriorate from the weather. Sometimes a roof is strictly utilitarian. Other times a more elaborate roofing style is desired that requires the artwork of a skilled roofer. Today’s marketplace gives you choices that range from a variety of shake and shingle types, to elaborate tiles.

Here are just a few roofing options that are on the market today:

Composition Shingles: This shingle is a type of asphalt shingle and is your most common. This is the least expensive roofing material. A composition shingle is fiberglass or paper combined with asphalt, with colored granules covering it. Models that use recycled resins and plastics to mimic stone and wood offer environmental benefits. These also resist cracking and warping better than the natural materials they resemble. If you need the look of slate or wood without the high cost, it may be worth it to spend more on an architectural grade or composite roofing.

Asphalt shingles

Composition shingles

Cedar Shingles: These wooden shingles are a very beautiful roofing option and are durable, but they do need TLC. In some climates you may have to apply a roof treatment about every five years. Over time, they will weather to a gray or soft silver that seems to root the house to the landscape.

Cedar shingles

Aged cedar shingles

Slate: Genuine slate comes mostly from Vermont, and is very durable. It sheds ice and snow, is beautiful, and it is very expensive. There is a newer imitation slate now on the market that is made of a combination of sand and cement fibers, and costs almost one-third less.

Genuine slate

Synthetic slate

Synthetic Shake: A newer roofing option is the reinforced rubber shake, called a Flex shake. It is made from the steel belts of discarded tires, and they are coated with ground slate to achieve different colors. This roofing material is not only “green”, but it comes with a 50-year warranty. It is also guaranteed against hail and other weather abuse.

Synthetic Shake

Metal Roofing: Although not a new material, metal roofing is becoming more popular. Today it has become a trendy alternative. It is fairly lightweight and comes in a variety of colors. This product comes in a traditional standing seam profile and is also available in a less costly 5V-Crimp profile. We have found this product performed best in high wind areas. It is best suited with our cottage styled home plans. There is also metal roofing that simulates barrel tile profiles, as well.

Metal roof on “Aruba Bay” – Plan #6840

Solar Roofing: Solar laminating panels, solar tiles, and solar standing seam metal are all roofing options for this renewable and completely clean source of energy. Consumers are now offered a great range of appealing choices to build their own solar energy system.

Solar Panel Roof

Solar Metal Roof

Tile Roofing: If you want a roof that will last up to a hundred years, you might want to look at tile. It’s favored in warm climates. The key to its status as a “green” material lies in its composition, shape, and its ability to be recycled. There are both clay and concrete tiles available. Barrel shaped tile roofs are commonly reflected in the Mediterranean-revival-influenced architecture of Florida and California. However, tile roofs come in many shapes besides barrel style and can simulate slate and shake profiles. Tile roofs are our personal favorite, as found on many of the Sater Design Collection homes such as our “Casoria” plan (#6797).

“Casoria” barrel roof tiles – Plan #6797

And the roof of your house doesn’t have to be strictly functional! Pick a roofing material that adds more aesthetic beauty and curb appeal to your home, while keeping it warm and dry.

Questions about which roofing option is best for your home? The Sater Design Collection recommends our friends at Eagle Roofing, who can evaluate your home based on regional trends and needs. And as always, look to theSater Design Collection to find the perfect home to fit your family’s needs!